PALM BEACH –The excitement of ArubaÂ’s Carnival came early this past Sunday evening, when some 700 guests, here for the 2006 UltimateBet Aruba Poker Classic, enjoyed a fantastic opening cocktail party and dinner on the sprawling pool deck of the Radisson Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino.
Colorful masks and Carnival beads were handed out to all guests, who then feasted on an international buffet that included Mexican, Italian, and Asian stations, as well as everyone’s favorite—a fresh seafood station overflowing with steamed shrimp.
The UltimateBet tourney began in Aruba in 2002 and attracts poker fanatics from all over the world. A few players won their trip to Aruba and entry into the tournament in on-line games at UltimateBet.com, while others bought their entry into the tournament that will award the top dog a prize of $1 million.
The poker tournament officially begins this Wednesday, but poker seminars and a Blackjack tournament are taking place on Monday and Tuesday, and are being covered by CBS television. Top poker players and celebrities, Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth, are also here to enjoy the festivities all week long.
The poker tournament is being held in the Radisson ballroom to accommodate the large number of players. The final table of nine players will be at the resort’s al fresco martini bar, Mira Solo, on Saturday, September 30th.
If Sunday evening’s opening event is any indication, this is sure to be an exciting week for all involved in the tournament. By night’s end, the dance floor was overflowing, and a few, clothes and all, took the plunge and danced in the pool!
